kostalex
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2006
- Posts
- 1,904
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- 32
Burn-in: 100 hrs from iBasso D2 Viper opamp-rolled + 150 hrs from WooAudio 3 Blackgated
1) Marantz cd-63 mk II CDP (Analod Devices multi-bit DAC inside) > WA3, stock tubes
Quote:
Note: I used the USB input of this Marantz.
Deep bass is rolled-off, bass weight is just right for me. Great accuracy.
Mids are the best I heard in any terms - details, decay, tonality; though on a slightly dry side. Extremely realistic voices with terrific sense of presence. I never heard electric guitars that good before.
Highs has a spike (Headroom graph confirms this), so sound is almost sibilant. But due to the excellent extension and details, highs do not sound harsh, just exaggerated at some frequencies. I am not sure whether I am able to get accustomed to this though.
Soundstage, instrumens separation and location are top-notch.
2) Pico DAC/Amp > WA3
Bass is almost the same as above.
Mids become nicely warmer at the expense of some details; less realistic.
Highs spike is reduced, but still here. Highs lose quality, some harshness appears.
3) Directly from Pico DAC/Amp
Bass has finally got satisfactory depth. Weight is heavier, on the fun side.
Mids are veiled, realism is gone.
Highs spike is modest, but harsh. I hate s-s-sibillance!
Soundstage is constrained.
4) Directly from aleXmod of Cowon X5 DAP (update Apr 14, 2010)
Quote:
Bass is deepest of all the combos mentioned above, though on a lean side.
Mids are well ahead of the Pico - no veil, lively, electric guitars are brisk, voices are vivid, tonality and details are pleasure to listen to.
Highs strength is alike to 2nd combo, minor sibilance is in-between Pico and 2nd combo.
Soundstage is in-between 2nd combo and Pico, separation and location are respectable.
Clarity, speed, details are great, Etymotic style, while smoother.
I feel some signs of power lacking, like lesser soundstage and less body comparing to 1st and 2nd combo. But I am not surprised since I am driving 600 Ohm cans from a DAP with quite a small battery.
5) the same Marantz CDP (see 1) > SOHA II, stock tubes (I will specify exact model later)
Bass depth is same to #3, weight is just right.
Mids are somewhat recessed and non-linear, being thinner at some frequency ranges and thicker at others. Guitars do not sound right, do not involve.
Highs spike is modest with light sibilance.
Details are modest and do not stand out.
Speed and separation are 4 out 5.
6) the same Marantz CDP (see 1) > SOHA II, tubes are Philips JAN 6922 (taken from my WA3)
Bass depth is same to #3, weight is just right. Quality is nice and detailed, though attack is a bit soft, on a slow side.
Mids are warmer and less realistic than with WA3, close to #2 or #3; blurred, less detailed than with WA3.
Soundstage is narrower and less deep comparing to WA3, instrument localization is good.
T1 vs W5000
W5000 is more coherent and musical, fun and involving. Soundstage is slightly wider and deeper. Bass hits too hard for me. T1 is faster, more detailed, better separates instruments. Which is better to me depends on the gear used. T1 wins in #5 combo, W5000 is better with #6.
T1 vs HD650
HD650 is the most comfortable and has the smallest soundstage out of three. I like how it is detailed & relaxed, dark & fast at the same time. Mids and separation are close to T1, with some gear HD650 mids are better. With all the gear used above, I prefer HD650 to T1 overall. Though I believe T1 may scale higher with better gear.
Comfort issues
T1 is incomfortable to me. My head is ^ shaped at top and T1 headband does not have corresponding notch here (HD650 has). So T1 lies heavy on this area with all its weight, causing the pain after some minutes. Earpads are OK, though HD650 pads are better too. Generally, HD650 was a real relief after I tried T1 for 30 minutes.
If I ever buy T1, I will easily mod the headband creating some pit on the headband.
T1 placement in my personal headphone ranking chart
I owned or listened to 90+ headphones and I ranked some of them in the chart, which you may find in my Earbuds buyers guide. At the moment, I place T1 on the top of the chart for its SQ strictly. Music enjoyment is another story, it yet to beat HD650 (probably with higher source/amp than I was tried).
Conclusion
Would I buy T1? Not now by two reasons:
Currawongs index of T1 reviews, notes and other info.
1) Marantz cd-63 mk II CDP (Analod Devices multi-bit DAC inside) > WA3, stock tubes
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Alex_Nsk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Some remarks. Kostalex has used my CDP for testing. It is NOT stock Marantz CD63 (KIS edition)! It is completely different design, which use only the body, PSUs and CDM12.3 transport. DAC based on simple multibit design with AD1865 stereochip. When used as USB DAC (I has made an USB input in this CDP) there are galvanic isolators and ASRC with reclocking from high quality masterclock in soundchain...so it is NOT mid-fi setup as somebody could think... |
Note: I used the USB input of this Marantz.
Deep bass is rolled-off, bass weight is just right for me. Great accuracy.
Mids are the best I heard in any terms - details, decay, tonality; though on a slightly dry side. Extremely realistic voices with terrific sense of presence. I never heard electric guitars that good before.
Highs has a spike (Headroom graph confirms this), so sound is almost sibilant. But due to the excellent extension and details, highs do not sound harsh, just exaggerated at some frequencies. I am not sure whether I am able to get accustomed to this though.
Soundstage, instrumens separation and location are top-notch.
2) Pico DAC/Amp > WA3
Bass is almost the same as above.
Mids become nicely warmer at the expense of some details; less realistic.
Highs spike is reduced, but still here. Highs lose quality, some harshness appears.
3) Directly from Pico DAC/Amp
Bass has finally got satisfactory depth. Weight is heavier, on the fun side.
Mids are veiled, realism is gone.
Highs spike is modest, but harsh. I hate s-s-sibillance!
Soundstage is constrained.
4) Directly from aleXmod of Cowon X5 DAP (update Apr 14, 2010)
Quote:
| Originally Posted by Alex_Nsk /img/forum/go_quote.gif This one is my own premial version of aleXmod based on TI PCM1794 DAC, LM6172IM OA as I/U covertors and THS6102 OA as output amp chip. All elecrolityc caps is Rubycon Black Gate, PK in analog PSU, NX-HQ in REF pin of DAC. 1% resistors and NPO SMD caps around.. |
Bass is deepest of all the combos mentioned above, though on a lean side.
Mids are well ahead of the Pico - no veil, lively, electric guitars are brisk, voices are vivid, tonality and details are pleasure to listen to.
Highs strength is alike to 2nd combo, minor sibilance is in-between Pico and 2nd combo.
Soundstage is in-between 2nd combo and Pico, separation and location are respectable.
Clarity, speed, details are great, Etymotic style, while smoother.
I feel some signs of power lacking, like lesser soundstage and less body comparing to 1st and 2nd combo. But I am not surprised since I am driving 600 Ohm cans from a DAP with quite a small battery.
5) the same Marantz CDP (see 1) > SOHA II, stock tubes (I will specify exact model later)
Bass depth is same to #3, weight is just right.
Mids are somewhat recessed and non-linear, being thinner at some frequency ranges and thicker at others. Guitars do not sound right, do not involve.
Highs spike is modest with light sibilance.
Details are modest and do not stand out.
Speed and separation are 4 out 5.
6) the same Marantz CDP (see 1) > SOHA II, tubes are Philips JAN 6922 (taken from my WA3)
Bass depth is same to #3, weight is just right. Quality is nice and detailed, though attack is a bit soft, on a slow side.
Mids are warmer and less realistic than with WA3, close to #2 or #3; blurred, less detailed than with WA3.
Soundstage is narrower and less deep comparing to WA3, instrument localization is good.
T1 vs W5000
W5000 is more coherent and musical, fun and involving. Soundstage is slightly wider and deeper. Bass hits too hard for me. T1 is faster, more detailed, better separates instruments. Which is better to me depends on the gear used. T1 wins in #5 combo, W5000 is better with #6.
T1 vs HD650
HD650 is the most comfortable and has the smallest soundstage out of three. I like how it is detailed & relaxed, dark & fast at the same time. Mids and separation are close to T1, with some gear HD650 mids are better. With all the gear used above, I prefer HD650 to T1 overall. Though I believe T1 may scale higher with better gear.
Comfort issues
T1 is incomfortable to me. My head is ^ shaped at top and T1 headband does not have corresponding notch here (HD650 has). So T1 lies heavy on this area with all its weight, causing the pain after some minutes. Earpads are OK, though HD650 pads are better too. Generally, HD650 was a real relief after I tried T1 for 30 minutes.
If I ever buy T1, I will easily mod the headband creating some pit on the headband.
T1 placement in my personal headphone ranking chart
I owned or listened to 90+ headphones and I ranked some of them in the chart, which you may find in my Earbuds buyers guide. At the moment, I place T1 on the top of the chart for its SQ strictly. Music enjoyment is another story, it yet to beat HD650 (probably with higher source/amp than I was tried).
Conclusion
- This is a true high-end headphone overall, the best I heard to date.
- The only drawback is a highs spike (at 8-9 kHz accordingly to Headroom graph).
- T1 is the most transparent and revealing headphone I heard.
- It is lighting-fast, on par with electrostats.
- It is time to upgrade my DAC, good bye Pico.
Would I buy T1? Not now by two reasons:
- It requires high quality source/amp to sound nice. I am not willing to invest into the whole rig upgrade now. With my current rig, T1 does not provide great SQ jump comparing to HD650.
- It provides a sense of unfinished product with these highs spike and overall build quality/comfort. I will wait for other upcoming Tesla models and some mods. I am sure that modded T1 will be a gem, but I do not like the idea to invent these mods myself.
Currawongs index of T1 reviews, notes and other info.
